Box-like cartons



Dec. 8, 1959 H. F. GATWARD Box-*LIKE cARToNs 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVNTORmpyF'nru/Apv 13s/ Filed Jan. 10, 1957` Dec. 8, 1959 H, F, @A1-WARD2,916,195

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BOX-LIKE CARTONS Filed Jan. l0, 1957 6 She'ets-Sheet 6 4 BOX-LIKECARTONS Frederick onward, East Grinstead, England Application January10, 1957, Serial No. 633,430

i Claims priority, application Great Britain September 20, 1956 2Claims. (Cl. 229-52) y This invention relates to box-like ca rtonscomposed Iof cardboard or similar sheet material, the chief o-bject jofthe invention being to evolve an improved carton 'which can beeconomically manufactured and which will avoid the necessity for the useof staples or other fastening devices for maintaining the carton in itsboxlike form.

' A carton in accordance` with the present invention is produced from asingle blank of cardboard or sirnilal sheet material without the aid ofstaples or other securing devices, the ends of the carton being closedby overlapping liap-like parts, some of which interlock to maintain thecartons box-like form, and others are formed to provide an integralcarrying handle.

, -It will be appreciated that such a carton can, therefore, bedistributed to the users inits original flat condition, and in thatcondition will occupy a minimum` of Vspace both during storage andtransit, and can be quickly and easily folded into its box-like formwhen required for use. Furthermore, the carton after use can, if itis tobe returned to the distributor, be returned lto its original flatcondition to facilitate transport.

The carton in accordance with the present invention has been designedprimarily for carrying bottled beverages, for example, four bottles, butcan be easily designed to carry any number of bottles, within reason orto contain other commodities.

` -ACQOrding to a further feature of the invention, the bottom of thecarton is so formed that it has good shockabsorbing qualities, thusrendering the carton particularly suitable for carrying fragile articlessuch as, for example, glass bottles.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which one carton in accordancewith the invention is constructed;

Figure 2 shows the blank in process of being folded to producethecarton;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and. 6 illustrate further stages in the foldingoperation;

Figure 7` is a perspective View of the folded carton;

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom of the carton;

Figure 9 is a plan view looking down into the interior of thev carton;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the blank used in the manufacture of alarger size carton; 4

Figure 11 is a perspective View illustrating this carton in the finalstage of folding;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view illus trating the carton inits fullyfolded condition; and

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate constructional details which are applicableto either form of carton.

Referring in the first case to the construction illustrated in Figures 1to 9, the blank, which is preferably produced from sheet corrugated orother type of cardboard, includes five rectangular portions indicated byreference numeral 10, formed with crease lines 11, these rectangularportions being intended to form the sides of y UnitedStates Patent Ov2,916,195 Patented Dec. 8, 19959 ice the carton, the endmostrectangular portions overlapping so that one side of the carton is ofdouble thickness.

The rectangular portions 10 carry at their opposite extremitiesldap-like portions, hereinafter referred to, which are connected withthe portions 10 by crease lines 12.

. The flap portions which are intended to form the bottom of the cartonare indicated by reference numerals la-Sa, whilst the Hap portions whichserve to close the carton at its upper end are indicated by reference11umerals 1-5.

The ap portions la-Sa, as is clearly shown in Figure 1, are ofsubstantially right-angle triangle form but are each provided with acurved protuberance 13 which projects from the hypotenuse of thetriangle and provides a recess 14. The endmost flap portions 1a and 5aare slotted respectively at 15 and 16, slot 15 being double orapproximately double the width of slot 16. The ap portions, which areintended to close the carton at its upper end, include three handlecarrying flaps 2, 4 and 5 which are again of right-angle triangleformation and are formed with handle portions 17 which project from thehypotenuse and are each formed with a slot 18 for the entry of thefingers when the carton is being carried. The handle portions 17 areconnected with the triangular flaps, 2, 4 and 5 by means of crease lines19.

, The remaining iiaps 1 and 3 are of square formation and are eachformed with a diagonally positioned slot 20 of a length equal to thewidth of `the handle portions 17.

If reference is now made to Figures 2 to 7, the manner of folding theblank will be clearly seen. The blank is first folded along the creaselines 11 and the ilap portions 1a-5a are then folded inwardly to closethe bottom of the carton. The slits 15 and 16 are first of allinterengaged to hold the endmost rectangular p0rtions in overlappingrelationship. The ap portions are then folded inwardly until they areflush with the inside of the carton. The ap portions are then presseddownwardly from the interior of the carton so that the parts 13 overlap,and it will be seen that the flap portions make edge-on engagement atthe points 14. The flap portions in this position will possibly projectupwardly slightly into the interior of the carton and consequently whenthe carton is filled there will be a tendency for the flap portions tostraighten out, but any movement of the flap portions beyond ahorizontal position will be preh Vented by their interengagement at thepoints 14. The bottom of the carton therefore Will, to a certain extent,have shock absorbing qualities, thus rendering the carton particularlysuitable for carrying fragile articles such as, for example, glassbottles.

When the carton has been filled, the flap portions 1-5 will be foldedinwardly along the crease lines 12 in their correct order.

Flaps 2 and 4 will lirst of all be folded inwardly, the handle portions17 of these two flap portions being folded upwardly so that they projectat right-angles to the aps. Flap portion 5 is then folded downwardly onto iiap 2, and finally flaps 1 and 3 will be folded inwardly, the handleportions 17 projecting upwardly through the registering slots 2li. Thecarton will, in this Way, remain closed and can be carried comfortablyin one hand, the ngers being passed through the registering slots 18.

It will be appreciated that the three handle portions 17 will lieclosely adjacent one another and to ensure this, it will be noted thatthe crease line 19 of aps 4 and 5 are set back slightly from thehypotenuse, whereas in the case of flap 2 the crease line 19 is setslightly forward. In this way the handle portions 17 will lie closelyside by side and provide what might be termed a composite laminatedhandle.

and consequently the form of the blank will be slightly different fromthat of the blank previously described. The blank for the larger cartonis illustrated in Figure and it will be seen that the carton isrectangular crosssection as distinct from the square cross-sectionalform of the carton previously described. The sides of the carton areagain produced from five rectangular parts of the blank which are againindicated by reference numeral 10 in Figure 10, these parts beingseparated by crease lines 11.

The flaps forming the bottom of the carton are again indicated byreference numerals 1a-Sa, but instead of being of identical form, theyare necessarily of slightly different shape in view of thecross-sectional shape of the carton. The aps again include projections13 and recesses 14, together withslits v15 andV 16, and when the cartonis folded the edges of the flaps will interengage at the points 14 togive the bottom of the carton its necessary strength.

The flaps at the opposite ends of rectangular portions 10 are of quitedifferent formation from those previously described, and in thisconnection it will be appreciated that as the carton has a greatercarrying capacity it is proposed to construct the handle from fourhandle flaps 17 which are constructed integrally with flaps 1, 3, 4 andS and are provided with crease lines 19 arranged substantially ashitherto. In this case the ilaps I, 3, 4 and S are not of theright-angle triangle formation previously described.

The flaps 1, 3, 4 and 5 are folded downwardly along the crease lines 12so that they overlap one another, the handle portions 17 all lyingadjacent one another and forming a composite laminated carrying handle.Flap 2 is finally turned downwardly and the four handle portions willthen project upwardly through the slot 20. As in this case only one ilap2 is provided, the latter is formed with an integral tonguel 21 which,as is clearlyshown in Figure 12, is intended to be tucked under the edgeof the uppermost handle carrying flap so as to maintain flap 2 firmly inits closed position.

Either of the constructions previously described may, if desired, bemodified in accordance with Figures 13 and/or 14. In Figure 13 thehandle portions 17 are formed with oppositely arranged notches 22 whichare engaged by the edge of the uppermost handle forming flap, with theobject of preventing the ilaps riding up the handle when the carton isbeing carried.

In the case of Figure 14, one of the handle portions is formed with anintegral tongue 23 which is turned inwardly into the slots in the handleportions and provides a more comfortable grip.

In either of the constructions hcreinbefore described, the carton may belined with fibre glass or other suitable heat insulating material, withthe object of maintaining the contents of the carton in either acomparatively cool condition, or conversely to prevent heat losses.

I claim:

l. A foldable rectangular box-like carton made up from a blank of sheetmaterial having five successively aligned rectangular portions, the twoend rectangular portions being substantially identical insize and inoverlapping relationship in box forming assembly and jointly providingone of the four vertical walls of the carton, each portion having adownwardly projecting ilap to cooperatively form the bottom of thecarton and an up wardly projecting flap to cooperatively form the topwall of the carton, each downwardly projecting flap being substantiallya right angle triangle in form and provided with a lip projecting beyondthe hypotenuse of the triangle adjacent the free end thereof to overlapsuperposed aps in jointly forming the carton bottom, the two endmostflaps each having an open slot with said slots extending inwardly fromthe opposite edges thereof and cooperatively intertting to lock said apsin closed bottom forming position, each upwardly projecting ap beingsutiiciently long to contact the opposing side to strengthen the crosssection of the carton, at least one of said upwardly projecting flapsbeing the samesize as the carton cross section and having a closed slotwith the remainder of said ilaps having a handle forming tongue portion,said handle portions being insertable through said closed slot toproject upwardly when said upwardly projecting flaps are folded to formthe top wall of the container with said slotted flap retaining saidhandle portions in operative position.

2. A foldable rectangular box-like carton made up from a blank of sheetmaterial having ve successively aligned rectangular portions, the twoend rectangular portions being substantially identical in size and inoverlapping relationship in box forming assembly and jointly providingone of the four vertical Walls of the carton, each portion having adownwardly projecting flap to cooperatively form the bottom of thecarton and an upwardly projecting flap to cooperatively form the topwall of the carton, each downwardly projecting ap being substantially aright angle triangle in form and provided with a lip projecting beyondthe hypotenuse of the triangle adjacent the free end thereof to overlapsuperposed flaps in jointly forming the carton bottom, the two endmostflaps each having an open slot with said slots extending inwardly fromthe opposite edges thereof and cooperatively interntting to lock saidaps inv closed bottom forming position, the first and third upwardlyprojecting aps being square in form and provided with a diagonal slot,the second, fourth and fifth upwardly projecting ap being of right angletriangle formation and having a handle portion projecting from thehypotenuse, said handle portions passing through the slots of the squareflaps and project upwardly when said upwardly projecting flaps arefolded to form the top wall of the container.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSl1,918,887 Ancira July 18, 1933 1,987,063 Hinton Jan. 8, 1935 2,101,303Williamson Dec. 7, 1937 2,110,681 Rutledge Mar. 8, 1938 2,342,198 Huln'nFeb. 22, 1944 2,400,443 Stopper May 14, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 833,517France Feb. 11, 1938 833,517 France Jan. 15, 1941

